Eastern CT – The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Foundation has announced the distribution of $107,400 to 38 eastern CT non-profits that will improve the quality of life for thousands of children in the region.
The Foundation raised funds throughout 2017 with fundraisers including the 6th Annual Bowl-a-Thon at High Rollers Luxury Lanes at Foxwoods Resort Casino in April and the 34th Annual Holiday Gala held at Mohegan Sun in December.
“I would like to thank the community for its continued support of the Foundation,” said Louis Ziegler, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Year after year, the community has come through in a time of need showing generosity to those less fortunate. A special thanks goes to the Mohegan Tribe and Mohegan Sun, not only for providing a first-class venue for the Holiday Gala, but for going above and beyond to make sure that event was successful.”
“Thank you to all our sponsors, committee members, volunteers, Foundation board members, and staff at the Chamber. Putting these events together is a team effort, and everyone involved played a critical role in our success,” said Ziegler.
Since 2002, the Chamber Foundation has donated more than $1.3 million to numerous local organizations that serve the needs of children. The Foundation’s goal is to support projects and programs that enhance and enrich education and economic opportunities for children and families in the Chamber’s service area.
This year’s recipients will be able to use funding to provide participation in regional activities, toys and books, school supplies, healthy nutrition, winter clothing, intervention for at-risk children, and food pantry items, among many others.
The 2018 Chamber Foundation grant recipients are:
- Montville Little League: $500 to provide scholarship funding to distribute to children for registration fees to play baseball.
- New London Community Orchestra: $500 to provide free violin and cello lessons for low to moderate income children in New London.
- Horses Healing Humans: $1,000 to provide scholarship funding for children ages 6-15 with emotional and physical disabilities.
- Hygienic Art: $1,000 to help support ‘Artist Academy Junior’ which fosters an interest in reading and the arts for young children and their families.
- United Cerebral Palsy of Eastern CT: $1,000 to purchase assistive technology devices for UCP’s Disability Support Program.
- Community Gardens Association: $1,000 to build one of four raised bed gardens at the Science & Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut.
- Catholic Charities, Diocese of Norwich: $1,500 to provide help and creative hope for mothers who are expecting, new mothers, babies, and children.
- Groton Community Meals: $1,500 to purchase food and supplies that will be used to provide a weekly dinner to local children.
- Natchaug Hospital: $1,500 to purchase a therapeutic book, game, DVD, and coloring book library for the children at the Joshua Center Southeast and Care Plus programs in Groton.
- New London Main Street: $1,500 to support literacy, music, and boat activities at the Connecticut Family Festival.
- Norwich Community Backpack Program: $1,500 to purchase backpacks and school supplies for low income youth in Norwich.
- Shiloh Development Corporation: $1,600 to maintain the safety and quality of the preschool’s outdoor playscape, by way of replacing worn equipment and hiring a licensed inspector to conduct a safety and quality check for the playground.
- Madonna Place: $2,000 to work with parents with the goal of improving child well-being, stabilizing families, and preventing child abuse and neglect.
- New England Science & Sailing Foundation: $2,000 to allow at-risk students in New London to participate in the Foundation’s ocean adventure STEM education programs, inspire a lifelong interest in education, and help reduce school dropout rates.
- Norwich Human Services: $2,000 to provide financial relief to parents by providing mandatory uniforms to their children for school.
- S.T.E.P.S. Inc.: $2,000 to provide two full weeks of free summer leadership training to middle and high school girls aged 13 to 18 in Groton and New London and also to attend a one day fall Women‘s Leadership Conference at UConn Avery Point in October.
- Thames River Community Service: $2,000 to provide scholarships to the organization’s summer camp.
- The Rotary Club of Norwich: $2,000 to provide support to the Rotary Mahan Coat Fund.
- Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters: $2,000 to support its community-based mentoring program in New London County.
- Southeastern Regional Action Council: $2,400 to support the implementation of the Adolescent Learning and Leadership Institute for approximately 75-100 high school youth programs in eastern CT during the 2018-19 school year.
- Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Connecticut: $2,500 to launch its enrichment program at the Jennings School in New London.
- Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center of Southeastern Connecticut: $2,500 to provide limited medical services and materials to support women and teens experiencing unplanned pregnancies.
- FRESH New London: $2,500 to build a more active and broad membership in the community food system and to engage New London youth in innovative projects that build a healthier community.
- The Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut: $2,500 to provide the Bring-a-Book-Alive Literacy Workshop to the public school district of New London for third grade students.
- Safe Futures: $2,800 to provide children who have been impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or trafficking with a child-centered phyco-education support group.
- High Hopes Therapeutic Riding: $3,000 to buy an Equicizer, a non-motorized mechanical horse that provides an alternative method to provide therapeutic activities for children and adults with disabilities.
- New London Youth Affairs: $3,000 to support teens toward high school graduation and employment.
- Thames Valley Council for Community Action: $3,000 to fund its annual Santa Boots project, providing boots for low-income children in New London and Windham Counties.
- United Community & Family Services: $3,000 to coalesce a concrete program for prevention and treatment of domestic minor sex trafficking.
- Higher Edge: $3,500 to continue their College Access Program (CAP) by expanding access to a college degree for disadvantaged high school students.
- Mystic Aquarium: $4,000 to provide nature-based educational opportunities to children in eastern CT at a critical stage of their development, and to nurture an interest in science and develop appreciation for nature.
- The Riverfront Children’s Center: $4,800 to purchase new equipment for infant and toddler rooms that meet industry standards.
- Waterford Country School: $4,800 to support the Connecticut Adoption Services’ ‘Project Connecticut’s Child’ program that facilitates difficult adoptions.
- Always Home: $5,000 to support homelessness prevention and shelter diversion in New London County.
- Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board: $5,000 to expand the number of disadvantaged youths aged 14-19 to serve in the 2018 Summer Youth Employment Program.
- St. Vincent De Paul Place: $5,000 to provide peanut butter and cereal to children whose families participate in the St. Vincent De Paul Place Food Pantry.
- United Way of Southeastern Connecticut: $5,000 to purchase healthy and nutritious food for distribution through the Gemma E. Moran United Way Labor Food Center.
- Tommy Toy Fund: $15,000 to purchase toys for needy children in eastern Connecticut.
The Chamber Foundation will continue to raise funds through events in 2018 including the 7th Annual Bowl-a-Thon on April 25 and the 35th Annual Holiday Gala on December 7. As of press, the Bowl-a-Thon is sold out at full capacity, but donations are accepted through PayPal. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available for the Holiday Gala. Contact the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT at
ChamberECT.com or call (860) 701-9113 with inquiries.
Learn more about the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Foundation at
ChamberECT.com/foundation or call the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT office at
(860) 701-9113.
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About the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation:
Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation, a business community-based 501(c)(3) foundation affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, is dedicated to promoting initiatives that enhance and enrich education and economic opportunities for children and families in the Chamber service area.
ChamberECT.com/foundation.
About the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut:
The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is a collaborative of business and community leaders dedicated to securing and enhancing the economic vitality of eastern Connecticut. The Chamber works to create value for its members and the region by providing forums for business networking, leadership and discussions of issues that affect the region; providing opportunities for members to showcase their products, services and accomplishments; helping small businesses succeed through educational programs; and working to reduce the costs of doing business in Connecticut. For more information, visit
ChamberECT.com.
